CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GHANA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICY A Dissertation Presented to The Graduate Faculty of The University of Akron In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Chris Opoku-Agyeman August, 2013 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GHANA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICY Chris Opoku-Agyeman Dissertation Approved: Accepted: ________________________________ _________________________________ Chair Interim Department Chair Dr. Raymond W. Cox III Dr. John C. Green ________________________________ _________________________________ Committee Member Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Ghazi-Walid Falah Dr. Chand Midha ________________________________ _________________________________ Committee Member Dean of the Graduate School Dr. Baffour K Takyi Dr. George Newkome ________________________________ _________________________________ Committee Member Date Dr. Francois Doamekpor ________________________________ Committee Member Dr. Namkyung Oh ii ABSTRACT The purpose of this dissertation was to explore governance issues in contemporary Africa, focusing specifically on Ghana’s recent political transformations. It is one of the recent studies that attempt to identify some of the forces that shape or influence citizens’ engagement in the political process. What is unique about the study is that it goes further than some of the existing studies on governance by incorporating the role of cultural, socioeconomic, attitudes towards democracy, demographic, and social capital attributes in the discussion on civic engagement. Using the 2002, 2005, and 2008 waves of Afrobarometer Survey, this study explored the nature and context of civic engagement in Ghana. Among the questions examined include: (a) the level and extent of citizen of Ghanaians since the return to constitutional rule with focus on the fourth republic, (b) the trends and patterns of engagement over time, (c) how the levels of engagement differ among social groupings, and (d) the factors predicting engagement in Ghana within the period under investigation. The data reveal that generally speaking, the level of civic engagement has been increasing with Ghanaians showing a reasonably positive sense of attitudes towards civic activities in the country. The study also demonstrates that performance of public institutions, country’s well-being, gender, place of residence, respondent’s satisfaction with democracy, social capital, denominational/religious affiliation and involvement, ethnicity and education emerged as the most significant determinants of civic iii engagement over time. Although all these salient determinants showed a positive significant impact on civic engagement, ethnicity, place of residence and actual satisfaction of life negatively affected how Ghanaian citizens engage in the political discourse. This study adds to the literature on governance in Africa. The limitations and policy implications of the results are discussed. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many plans fail for lack of many counsels, hands, and minds from people. And so is the writing of every book including my dissertation. I am expressing my profound gratitude to my committee members for their tremendous input and guidance throughout the entire process: Dr. Raymond Cox III (Chair), Dr. Ghazi-Walid Falah, Dr. Baffour K Takyi, Dr. Francois Doamekpor, and Dr. Namkyung Oh. I also want to recognize those persons who reviewed this text: Dr. Isaac Addai, Lansing Community College in Michigan; Sarah Kafui Amanfu, The University of Pittsburgh, and Ellen Wingate. In addition to the above mentioned people, I also wish to acknowledge the moral support of the following persons in completing my dissertation: Dr. George R. Newkome, VP for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, The University of Akron; Dr. Mark B Tausig, The University of Akron; Dr. Rajade Berry-James, North Carolina State University; Mr. Lee A Gill, The University of Akron; Dr. Todd Finkle, Gonzaga University; Mr. Peter Owans, President and CEO, Phoenix Associates, Japan; Mr. Charles Gyamfi, Court Registrar, Ghana; Theresa Naska, The University of Akron; and the leaders and members of the Church of Pentecost, Akron Assembly. Indeed, my attitudes towards life have been greatly influenced by inspirations from books and words reechoed into my life by people. While this influence has made me diligent, prudent, self-motivated and very optimistic, it has also made me become more appreciative of mankind regardless of race, gender, and other differences. v DEDICATION Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). I want to first of all dedicate my accomplishments to God for his unflinching support and favor inside out. Secondly, to my family, especially my dad, Kwame Opoku- Agyeman, and mum, Lillian Achiaa Agyeman, for their love and immense contributions in my journey of success. Third, to Sarah Kafui Amanfu, Dr. Raymond Cox III, Dr. Baffour Takyi, Dr. Isaac Addai, Dr. Todd Finkle and Dr. RaJade Berry-James for their unreserved perseverance, dedication, mentoring, and massive support towards my successes and accomplishments. Thank you very much. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 Background ...........................................................................................................5 Democratization and Civic Engagement ............................................................11 Objectives of the Study .......................................................................................15 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................15 Organization of the Study ...................................................................................17 II. OVERVIEW OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA ..............................20 The Fourth Republic (1992 and Beyond)............................................................23 The New Democratic Dispensation (1992-2009) ...............................................24 The Second President Under The Fourth Republic (2000-2004) .......................26 Second President of the Fourth Republic Under John Agyekum Kufuor (2004-2008) ........................................................................................................31 John Evans Atta Mills/Mahama’s Administration Fourth Republic (2008-2012) ........................................................................................................31 Third President of the Fourth Republic ..............................................................32 vii Ghana’s Socio-Political Landscape ....................................................................37 Civic Engagement in Twenty-first Century Ghana ...........................................40 Civic Engagement and the Various Social Groups – Religion .......................41 Civic Engagement and the Various Social Groups – Ethnicity ......................45 Civic Engagement and the Various Social Groups – Gender .........................48 Civic Engagement and the Various Social Groups – Age ..............................50 Civic Engagement and the Various Social Groups – Rural Urban Variations ........................................................................................................53 III. LITERATURE REVIEW .........................................................................................56 Communitarism ..................................................................................................57 Social Capital ......................................................................................................58 Deliberative/Discursive Theory ..........................................................................59 Social Movement Theory....................................................................................61 Civic Engagement Evolution ..........................................................................62 The Meaning of Civic Engagement – Conceptualization, Origin and Principle ..........................................................................................................63 Evolving Phases of Civic Engagement: Civic Engagement and the Old Public Administration ..............................................................................65 Civic Engagement and the New Public Administration .................................69 Rational, Public Choice, New Public Management, and Civic Engagement .....................................................................................................72 Post Modernism and Civic Engagement .........................................................75 Civic Engagement and Its Relevance to Governance .....................................78 Civic Engagement and Its Challenges ............................................................83 Dimensions of Civic Engagement ..................................................................85 viii IV. METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................96